FedEx Express has signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 27 767-300 freighters worth $4.7bn to replace its less efficient, medium wide-body cargo planes.

The company has also exercised options for two additional Boeing 777 freighters, which will support FedEx’s growth in the international cargo market.

Boeing said that its 767-300 freighter, which is based on the Boeing 767-300ER passenger aircraft, is able to carry approximately 58t of revenue cargo with intercontinental range and is suitable for deployment in new long-haul, regional or feeder markets.

FedEx Express is planning to power the Boeing 767-300 freighters with General Electric CF6-80C2 engines.

FedEx Express president and CEO David Bronczek said: "The 767 freighter, with its solid efficiency among medium wide-body cargo airplanes, is an ideal solution to support our strategy of providing fast and reliable delivery to every US address and to more than 220 countries and territories."

The twin-engine 777 freighter offers a range of up to 4,900nm (9,070km) with a full payload and is powered by General Electric’s GE90-110B1L or GE90-115B1L engines.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Jim Albaugh said: "FedEx Express is one of the industry’s premier air freight carriers. The way they have operated the 777 has demonstrated to the world its capabilities as a freighter. We are excited they have chosen to further expand their 777 fleet.

"The 767 is a proven freighter and this order constitutes a strong vote of confidence for its capabilities. It is an airplane that we will be building for decades."

The first three 767 airplanes will be delivered to FedEx in 2014, while other freighters will be delivered subsequently, at a rate of six planes a year from 2015-18.

FedEx currently operates seventeen 777 freighters and has an option for an additional 41 aircraft while the plane maker has won 200 Boeing 777 airplanes this year.